Aaron Baar Email & Phone Number

Chicago

In addition to continuing Senior Writer responsibilities, led communications strategy and execution for a $50 million nonprofit serving the blind, visually impaired, disabled, and veteran communities. Served as the primary writer and editor for the organization’s annual reports, printed newsletters, e-mail communications, and donor solicitations. Worked closely with Communications Manager to develop social media strategies and tactics. Worked with Chief Executive Officer to author bylined editorials in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Daily Herald advocating for disability rights. Served as editorial director and mentor to producers of “The Disability Minute,” a weekly segment airing on top-rated radio station WBBM that covers topics of importance to the disability community. Managed crisis communications when the organization cut a program serving blind and developmentally disabled adults due to state budget cuts. Secured high-profile media placements for the agency’s social service initiatives in local news outlets, including Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago Tribune, and network affiliates of NBC, CBS, PBS, and Fox in the country’s third-largest market.

Greater Chicago Area

Senior member of a four-person development team charged with securing more than $5 million in donated funds annually. Primary copy- and grant-writer for materials targeting high-gift foundations and donors ($100,000+) and for the organization’s $7 million endowment campaign. Personally, led proposals securing more than $500,000 in annual grant funding. Served as lead writer and editor for internal and external communications, including executive memos, newsletters, annual reports, and donor solicitations.

Freelance reporter writing news and features for various publications and Web sites, such as Brand Innovators, Marketing Dive, Digiday Content Studios, Restaurants & Institutions (trade magazine), Citysearch.com (Chicago), The Heckler (satirical consumer sports newspaper), Photo District News (trade magazine), POP Times (trade magazine), Content – The Magazine of the Custom Publishing Council (trade magazine).

Greater Chicago Area

Adapted thought leadership pieces for Big Four consulting firm’s sponsorship of the Wall Street Journal’s daily “CMO Today” section. Interviewed internal and external experts to create journalistic news pieces, video Q&As, and bylined articles for daily newspaper section targeted at senior, executive, and C-suite level marketing professionals. Work consistently received praise from internal and external stakeholders, including C-suite members.

Writer and fill-in editor for a leading business website providing timely news and analysis to marketers throughout the world. Covered breaking news and trends for beats such as consumer electronics, telecommunications, entertainment, financial services, and pharmaceuticals for its flagship daily e-newsletter, delivered to 38,000 subscribers via e-mail every day. Edited and published other reporters’ content, including art sourcing and editing, through a proprietary content management system.

Chicago

Freelance writer and consultant for national and international marketing communications agencies, including Starcom MediaVest Group, DDB Worldwide, Leo Burnett, TRU Inc., Sponge, Moxie, and others. Work included writing speeches for top-level, C-suite executives on trends in media and marketing; research reports on teen and twenty-something behavioral trends; media preparation plans and press releases; internal communications, and ghost-written articles for top executives for publication in consumer and trade magazines.

Greater Chicago Area

Managed and created content for a weekly e-mail newsletter targeted at search industry professionals. Conducted interviews with industry leaders, and wrote analysis pieces exploring relevant topics supplementing Mediapost's Search Daily e-newsletter.

Member of global trendspotting and strategic content team charged with identifying shifts in the zeitgeist for global advertising agency and clients, such as Unilever, HSBC, Johnson & Johnson, and Nestle. Contributed to specialized reports (a.k.a. “trendletters”) on topics such as The Future of Email and The Rise of the Streaming Entertainment, as well as annual reports highlighting macro trends for the coming years, as well as smaller areas to watch.

Broke news for award-winning weekly trade publication and Web site covering some of the world’s best-known advertising agencies, such as Leo Burnett, Fallon Worldwide and DDB, and Fortune 500 companies, such as McDonald’s, Kellogg and Procter & Gamble. Also authored and contributed to analyses following the impact of news on those advertising agencies and clients for weekly publication. Wrote numerous pieces for other sections of the magazine, including creative features and profiles, career advice features, and occasional commentary, and was a regular contributor to magazine’s “Adfreak” blog. Produced and edited daily content for regional section of the magazine’s Web site. Research-heavy position involved analyzing business strategies of new advertising campaigns, as well as agency efforts to win new business and adapt to a rapidly changing marketplace.

Covered state and local governments and investment banks in 11-state Midwest region for national daily trade newspaper. Broke news about multimillion dollar municipal finance and banking deals, including airport expansion and construction, tollway maintenance, school bonds and downtown redevelopment in cities such as Detroit, Chicago and Minneapolis. Created and developed secondary beat covering stadium finance during mid-90s boom of construction projects. Accountable for weekly Midwest section covering regional economic development trends and developments, as well as occasional features and profiles of governments and bond issuers.

General assignment reporter/slot editor for renowned wire service in Chicago bureau. Wrote copy on hourly deadlines for print and broadcast clients throughout the Midwest and the country. Covered all areas of news from breaking news to business enterprise to sports stories, and also worked on agricultural trading desk.

Certificate, Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management

Focus on strategic development, marketing, and communications.

Msj, Reporting And Writing

Concentration in reporting and writing for newspapers and magazines. Specialization in business and political reporting.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Comparative Literature

Activities and Societies: Majored in English, with a focus on American Literature, with a minor in mass communications.

Education record